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When Should Kids Throw a Curveball?

(From Randy Seperich of Parker Youth Sports, Parker, CO)

At what age is it best to allow kids to throw the curve ball? I know there is much discussion on this, but I have seen many coaches who would rather ruin a kid's arm for a game, than wait to develop the proper technique and player's physical ability.

Here is what one noted expert has to say on the subject. Dr. Jack Hutslar of the North American Youth Sports Institute says, "NO! No curve balls. No sliders." Both pitches are very stressful on the shoulder and elbow bones and attaching ligaments. Instead, learn to throw a change up. The most important thing for young pitchers to learn is this: Pitch using good mechanical form. Study this in books or videos. At the same time, follow the credo of Ray Miller, former major league pitching coach. He says "Throw strikes. Change speeds. Work fast. This works."

More information is available in an article entitled "Curve Balls: Do They Have A Place in Youth Baseball" by Michael A Clark of the Youth Sports Institute at Michigan State University. You can find his article at http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/ysi/Spotlight1993/curve.html. In the article Clark says that the decision on when a youngster should begin throwing curve balls should be based more on the athlete's physical maturity than on chronological age.

In the same vein, the total number of pitches a youngster pitches in the span of a few days is becoming a growing concern among medical experts. Most youth baseball programs have limitations on how much and how often pitchers can pitch. Despite the limitations, overuse injuries by young pitchers are on the rise. Major league pitchers today usually throw less than 100-120 pitches per game and pitch with perhaps four days rest. Young kids should not be approaching 100 pitches per game. Youth league coaches should keep track of the number of pitches a young pitcher throws in a game and how much rest pitcher gets between starts. The coach should also keep track of the amount the player throws on the sidelines warming up, during practice and during infield practice since most youth league pitchers also play shortstop.